And a wonderful weding it was

If you look carefully you will see the tissue in the right hand that was used a couple of times;~)

It finally happened after many months of planning, frustrations, doubts, tears, excitement, happiness, and emotional roller coaster March 26th finally arrived. It was Paul's and Heather's wedding. I know it has been a long time since I opened this blog. In fact I had forgot and had to reset my password twice, but this was such a special occasion with some special people I thought ity deserved to be published in the World News Gorst.

What a day for many of us that had lived through the preplanning and the ups and downs that go with the reality of an upcoming marriage. For some this was a first time experience others experianced it before, some living through their own rememberances. But today belonged to Paul and Heather and they deserved this moment.

Here comes the Bride in all her beauty - You look lovely Heather

The very happy and serious Groom with proud mothers

The top picture groom attendants from left Chris, Paul's son Nicholas, and best friend of family Clark

Attending matrons: from right Heather's younger sisters (unfortunately I don't know their names (oops on me) and Tiffany

DID HE OR DID HE NOT?

He did. As many of you were aware Doug was determined to pee on the Four Corners Monument. I swear he is part Dog not Doug. In past trips he has peed on the Continental Divide marker and the Meridian marker and was thus determined the Four Corners would not escape his territorial markings.

As you can see from the picture it may not seem too obvious as this site presented a Major problem. There were constantly people around the monument. Not to be deterred Doug was looking at his options and started strategizing his approach. First he canvassed the area for a cup. None to be found! He next he looked in our car for something and he thought a 16 oz. Coke Cup would be too obvious.

So the next item may be too graphic for sensitive for some viewers.

He went into the Porta Potty,gathered himself a wad of toilet paper, and peed in to the wad, carried it out to the monument and squeezed it dry. This reporter could not believe what he was seeing so a photo is "seeing is believing".

And the rest of the story - afterwards there are NO faucets, drinking fountains nor lavatories thus no way to wash his hands. This reporter could not have asked for more poetic justice.

HELP LET ME OUT!

One of the most memorable things about visiting my sister Stephanie and her family is the hours we spending laughing and telling stories. From a family of thirteen and many more in offspring, there are so many stories we have told and have yet to discover. This evening on our first major stop of our journey through Idaho, on our way to Texas, to enjoy a wonderful, specially prepared dinner by Stephanie. To our surprise she had invited her son, Tony, and daughter, Tori. We missed you Misty.
For many of you having spent any length of time with me and my brother Doug it is understandable why most of my sibling's off-spring hesitate to introduce any new girlfriends or boyfriends to either of us without a disclaimer of our personalities, unending wit and sarcasm. My brother Doug's especially.
Tonight was no exception Tony, my naive Godson brought his girlfriend to the slaughter. Her first comment was, "I have already been briefed and I am prepared!" NOT! You can never prepare for the rewarding experience of a first time meeting with Doug. It is only as a salvation I accompany him to buffer the pain and agony. Tonight was no exception. Tonight, if the barbeque was not hot enough Kim was ROASTED to perfection. I can truthfully say from a magnificent dressing down by Doug she was provisionally allowed to spend the remainder of the evening with us and later proved to be worth her intiation by paving the trail to an unmerciful dressing down of boyfriend Tony.
Here is the story: Kim to Tori (Stephanie's daughter) "I have found the perfect wall paper for our bathroom." Tori: "Really what?" Kim: "Wallpaper with Outhouses." This immediately brought laughter from Tori and Stephanie and an explanation to those of us not privy to the story. It seems that Nels (Tori's husband) and Tony were up camping and while Nels was passed out in the back of the vehicle Tony LOCKED HIMSELF IN THE OUTHOUSE. While Tony was red with embarrassment Tori suggested: "Tony, why don't you tell them the story." Tony's response: "Which time?" Oh, oh, NO. You didn't say that Tony did you? You didn't just say: "WHICH TIME?" Yep, he did, he not only locked himself in the outhouse this time but TWO OTHER TIMES besides. Now any of us that have experienced Outhouse use know it is virtually impossible to lock yourself in let alone the fact that, most outhouses do not have much more than blocks of woods as handles, old screen door hook and eyes, or a block of wood that shoves into a slot. So how do you lock yourself inside an outhouse. Tony can and Tony did not once, but three times, so here is the rest of the story. Several years ago Tony's dad Gary, took Tony to one of the Casinos in Nevada and they had modernized their urinals with automatic flush-o-meters. This opened a wonderful opportunity for Gary and he proceeded to tell Tony that the way these units worked was to stand back and say, "I'm done now." Bang! On cue the flush-o-meter opened up and water gushed out. Tony had never forgotten this valuable lesson from his dad so on three seperate occassions in three different outhouses Tony stood up and shouted at the door, "okay I'm done now!" SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER GET OFF THE LITTLE BUS!

A DAY AT THE ZOO

Oh My Gosh!! Thank goodness there were NO PARENTS allowed on this day trip. With Great Uncles almost anything is okay, shoes, shirts, socks and all. Ah ha yep, yep, yep, thank goodness for Grand Uncles and Grand Parents. They can be so much fun!!

One thing about taking a 7-year old and a 2-year old to the zoo, it is not always about the animals. Aside from the Ice Creams and Lemonades there is the sprinklers and the fountains. Catch them if you can.

And of course dressing up as a starfish is just as fun as running through the fountains.

Even if one size does NOT always fit all!!

And though the Lions and the Tigers and the bears oh and the Belluga Whale were noticeably missing in the overcast and muggy weather. "The puppies", as Tayla shouted were an okay draw and worth a pose - well, maybe, if you note the ho hmm expression Tayla dispalyed.

And of course some of the wonderful things about spending the night away from home are kid's movies (especially Disney), staying up late, waking up late, and making car and truck pancakes

And then it is down to some serious painting of wall plaques for Dad and Mom. Such dedicated concentration.

Finishing up the minute details with a dot here and a dot there of sparkle before the finished product was ready to give to Dad and Mom. - Oh, did I mention that when it was time to go home it was a tearful event of "We don't wanta go home Uncle Ray" ;~> Dang do I have them spoiled!!!

I am including this picture, not because I took it - just in case there was a question - but because it reminded me of an experience I had sometime with my great niece Hailey.

I was holding her and she was looking at my face and she was asking me about my mustache and wrinkles and for a brief moment it made me realize how old I was.

That is until a second later I realized how much age difference there was between us and what a wonderful feeling it was to be as old as I was and holding this wonderfully dear child that unquestionably loved me. Her questions were in innocence and meant no judgement and I felt young again.

I sure love all my nieces and nephews because I share such special moments with each of them.

Yesterday a friend and I went to "The Great Wall", an Asian shopping mall, an old Home Base conversion, and enjoyed Dim Sun. It has been years since I had Dim Sun and I remember now why. Every cart that was rolled into my sight had a sign that said "pick me"! It is a good thing my friend is Asian because with her help I was able to be more selective rather than attempt every morsel and have her roll me out of there.
She ordered one dish before I realized, she speaks Chinese, it was TRIPE!!! I HATE TRIPE!!! It is one of the most horrifying dishes I remember. My Dad used to spend Sundays cooking up a big pot of Menuda and all of us kids except my youngest sister who has been diagnosed as DEMENTED, hated it. However, my Dad being from the old school unwaveringly insisted we would eat Menudo until THE POT WAS EMPTY!
This most likely was thebeginning of my theatrical career because I could convince God I loved that C*** as I choked down each tiny morsel. For those of you my firends who do not know what tripe is, it is cow's gut.
Back to the present, here is this bowl sitting in front of me, my friend licking her lips as she begins spooning it on her plate, and I reminiscing about Sunday in our house.
Okay so what does a man do I mean he is with his best friend and they are sharing a wonderful time - I PLUNGE! I dish some on my plate trepidly bring it to my lips and I LIKE IT. I am so crushed, so disappointed in myself another part of my past cast to the wind. I even brought the left overs home.

I'm BACK! I have decided to resurrect my blog site and I will attempt to reunite with so many of you my friends who encouraged me to get my butt back in gear and start blogging again. I hope I will become more regular than every six months.

I am hoping with the help of Tiffany to begin downloading some of my photos that you asked about. Don't blame me if I start overwhelming you. So with instructions I received from dear Tiffany here comes my first attempt. ------ WISH ME LUCK!!



This picture is from my file of last year when I was attending O.C. taking a photography class. It certainly showed my beginning steps of becoming a world class photographer. It is a picture of one of the fountains at the downtown Bremerton Conference Center.

YES!! THERE IS JUSTICE

Well here it is almost mid-term and I am still hanging in there. I have learned so much about my camera and the art of taking pictures. I can't remember the last time that I used the Auto button, which is a sign of a true photographer - they say. I still have so much to learn, but I am not frustrated as I look through the view finder now and I am more sure of myself when I look at something and try and understand what it is I want to capture. Sharing my photos with my niece and my class mates is exciting as we each discuss our ideas and help each other improve. Recently I posted three of my photos on the college web site for review by other campus members. This is the test of test when other past and present photographers have the opportunity to see and critque your pictures. So far I haven't received any comments - what is the saying, no news is good news, but I am truly hoping for some good comments to help me improve my style.
More than once is the time I have looked at the work of other photographers and I wonder if I will ever get as good as they, the colors, the scene, the topic. Some are so beautiful and inviting. As we have found out my niece and I are two different photographers. As she calls it, I am an objective photographer and she is a subjective photographer. She is so much more happy photographing a person or animal while I love scenery, architecture, and engineering items.
Talking about my niece, which is the topic of my post - last night was not only eventful it was wonderfully rewarding.
In a previous post I wrote about how I was the victim when my niece was talking to me and I got yelled at for talking.
Last night I laughed my butt off - while the instructor was talking she was wandering around the room, and the next thing THE WHOLE CLASS heard was, "WHAT IS THAT? - SOLITAIRE?" Yep, yep, yep BINGO!!! right between the eyes. Tiff got caught playing Solitaire on her computer while the instructor was talking. I couldn't help it I jumped out of my seat and in total exuberance I shouted "YES!! YES!!" I was laughing so hard. She got caught! There is justice and the whole world heard it. I have been vindicated. Of course she denies all of it but she lives with so many others in Eqypt (On Da Nile).
And THEN, oh gosh it gets so much better - a short time later THE WHOLE CLASS hears, "DON'T TELL ME THAT IS A CELL PHONE?" Oh the photo gods were smiling down at me last night. Our friend Deja sitting behind us was caught using her cell phone. And Laurie, the instructor, is not bashful about sharing her feelings with the whole class so she proceeded to embarrass Deja about using her cell phone while she was talking.
It was such a WONDERFUL evening in class and I am still in a happy mood today. Last night WAS GIRL'S NIGHT OUT!!!!! The score is Men 1 Women 2. It is a fine day at sea Cap'n.

THANK GOODNESS I AM GOOD

I recently read the blog of my niece and pondered the results of her conversation with my princess (great niece) concerning her yellow flag for talking in class. Now of course I don't disagree that it is a worthy lesson the teacher was trying to impress on Hailey, after all we occasionally have had to rein her in (gee I made a pun Raine/rein) when she is constantly interrupting while others are talking. I think this is a "growing up thing" since she is not the only one at that age and even older when seeking attention over others. But to get back to my story, I was about to say that I experienced the same issue recently.
I was sitting in class Monday minding my own business and truly focusing on the instructor when my classmate started talking to me. I was caught in a predictament do I continue focusing on the instructor and be rude to my classmate or take the time to acknowledge and interact with my classmate? After all I try and understand the need for attention.
Evaluating talk or not talk - show love and interest or good student attributes I decided to acknowledge my classmate.
BAM!! right between the eyes the instructor narrowed her comment to me requesting me not to talk while she was explaining something. DID YOU GET IT....? ME not to talk! Why I always get caught and placed in these embarrasing situations I don't know but I truly believe part of it is because my classmate IS A GIRL and girls always get away with everything.
And things never change (reminiscing back to my grade school days) because my classmate instantly put on that innocent "what were you thinking of?" look, ignored me like the plague after that.
Next time I am going to sit next to Jim cause guys don't do this to each other.

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT

f-stop, shutter speed, white balance, AV, Tv, Flash drive, RAW, RAW-JPG - WAIT! my brain is going on overload. I took this class for fun not to memorize a foreign dictionary. I have 1,289 buttons on my camera, an instruction manual the size of a dictionary and a brain the size of the pea.
Trying to keep up with all the new terms I have to learn and all the buttons I have to push to make an image come life is giving me a migraine.
Whatever happened to my wonderful one button Brownie insta-matic? Aim And Shoot. Yep that's what I want RETRO!!!!
Last night I couldn't even access my programs because everything was in Arabic. I am writing frantically to keep up with the directions from the professor who keeps turning out the lights so I have to try and write in the DARK!
My eyes have RED circles that look like one of those twirling discs people use to hypnotize the unwary, my hair has cowlicks stticking up all over and I really need help.
So I lean across my desk to ask my classmate if she could give me a hand.
Unfazed she looks at me with that quizzical, are you kidding me, you can't get this look, while she is busily typing away on her personal Blog Site and looking at the web sites of other photographers, SHE HAS ALREADY PRINTED HER PHOTOGRAPHS while I am still trying to find mine.
With half a heart she reaches over, pushes a button and all of sudden my computer lights up the screen starts rolling lights are flashing, web sites are scrolling and Eureka!! There it is. Just like the professor said it was.
I don't like her, my class mate. ;~)
She never takes notes, she never reads assignments, says she is too busy taking pictures, she already has 2,139 pictures enough to finish the course and I am stuck on 36 all of my dog lying down and standing up.
I don't like her, my classmate. ;~)
But you know what? I am stuck with her because she knows which button to push to make my computer work.

CHEEP DATES # 2

Recently I returned from a wonderful and fun-filled vacation to Las Vegas. I took a dear friend there for her birthday and it was her first time. As with any place I have seen and I have the wonderful opportunity to re-visit and see through another person's eyes this was no exception. It so rewarding to watch someone share the same delight I experienced.
However, staying consistent with one of my earlier posts it should not come as a surprise I still enjoy the Budget Plan and always seek ways to minimize my financial impact.
Thus was the case in Las Vegas and I whole heartedly recommend it to anyone that has the fortitude to just say "No!"
Looking for tickets to shows we came across a ticket desk advertising show tickets so naturally we wondered in that direction. Unbeknownst to us this was a Sales Gimmick desk. It was a vacation time share promo.
So here is the deal-for $40 CASH they will give you vouchers for a show and gaming tokens. My suspicious mind say's Yeah Sure! but since this was Las Vegas and gambling is the game in town I decided to go ahead. We were trucked as so many cattle, to a waiting conference hall with the typical high pressure - totally UnFunny-sales staff and mangerial hammers.
To make a loooong story short the end result is this, we spent 3-hours of our non-vital time to listen to the sales spiel, meet with two high pressure hammers, then a final "No" at the receptionists desk and the trip back to our hotel where we cashed in our gaming voucher for SLOT machine credits (this is important because they gave us cash) $75.00 and our two free show tickets $58.00 each.
So for a $40 gamble our winnings amounted to $151 and once again I had accomplished a Bargain Basement Date!!!!

FIRST DAY PERSPECTIVE

What is interesting is to follow the Blog of my classmate (niece) and her first day of school and my perspective of my first day of class.
Note if you will, I am more pessimistic ( my hero is Eeyore) our professor bored me. Well not completely but quite a bit of the times and I remembered how when I was an active student, I had profs I enjoyed and profs I could easily have done On-Line. This one falls in the middle. However, on an optimistic note, I am excited about some of the things she has indicated we will cover. My input was I am interested in traveling and portrait photography but fail to have a perspective and interpretive eye when I am looking at something, I know what I want my photograph to state I just don't always capture that. She, the professor, promises to cover this as well as the many things my classmate talked about in her Blog.
I recalled last night while I stayed up past my bedtime reading my assignment for tonight how many times I did this for 3 and 4 classes, and here I am doing this just for one class - but wait! I am changing my student status to AUDIT where pass or fail is not an issue. Wheeeee I can turn out the light and go to bed. So much for Chapter 3, I'll try and capture you during my lunch break. MAYBE - there is still the weekend.
In truth (dang-it) I really did enjoy myself and I do look forward to this quarter with high expectations. Secretly, it was so much fun watching my niece going through the Freshman phase. She was a delight to be with. Don't tell her though.

GOOD MEMORIES

You know how sometimes things revisited bring back good memories? That is what happened to me yesterday. In 1987 I finally completed enough credits to receive my Associates Degree this after having transferring from another school and having to retake many courses in order to receive local accreditation.
I now can remember there were times I wanted to quit, times I became so frustrated and fearful because I couldn't seem to grasp a particular subject, the anxiety that went with every final exam, the many times I survived on 3, 4 and 5 hours worth of sleep because I was also working full time. And then that most exhillerating, rewarding feeling that came with, as Reese Witherspoon so eloquently put it in "Legally Blond", "I DID IT!" I graduated and surprizingly graduated as an honor student.
Since 1987 I have not returned nor set foot on any campus and with no regrets.
But yesterday, my niece, Tiffany and I signed up for fall quarter at Olympic College. We will be taking a Photography class, but that is insignificant to the good feelings she and I experienced as we walked into the registrars office filled out the usual submission forms discussing class numbers, room numbers, student ID numbers like two NEW Freshman entering a new experience for the first time.
And THEN the walk across the campus while our own thoughts and fond memories of our individual experiences returned when we were active students came back to wash over our emotions and our faces.
As we entered the Student Union and Book Store it was like "I'M BACK!" and it felt so good and so right.

BUDGET DATES

When I was in the Army, as most service persons seeing Europe, depending on your agenda required considerable investment and finding cost savings was a must. Several books were written advertising "See Europe on $5.00 A Day.
I believe this became the start of my frugal attitude in many things I do today one being dating. And this then is where I am taking you today. I will share with you a perfect day of dating on $5.00.
Bear in mind this may only be a one shot deal with the same woman (or man), but hey let's face it think of how many different people you can meet using my method.
Now also bear in mind that one of two end results will occur. There will probably not be a middle road either you will find the right person that will go out with you again, or the person you are taking on this special date will never see you again and you can bet you ain't getting a good night kiss on the door step afterwards.
So let us begin this special day.
I had invited my friend to share dinner, a concert and a movie with me this past Saturday. Excited and looking forward to a pleasant day I did my usual shower and shave broke out the special Armani deodorant and cologne saved only for special occasions, spent the required 15 minutes ensuring my part was perfectly straight and all straglers were waxed down or pulled out. I then got out the trusty ear mower and shaved the inside of each ear, women hate smuggling up to a bush poking out of ear lobes. Next came the tweezers and scissors first using the scissors I made sure that the bugger encrusted hair protruding from my nostrils was neatly trimmed back beyond eyesight, took the tweezers and plucked out the worst of my eye brow bush. Handsome and feeling spry I selected an appropriate color and appealing shirt with complimentary pants, socks, and shoes.
I was immaculate and ready for the KILL! I am definitely under the belief my dates deserve this extra preparation and trouble after all as I mentioned earlier, this may be my one and only chance to score.
Before leaving it is important to make a first impression, so I always try and bring a bouquet of flowers, thank goodness I have several rose bushes to fill this need just a matter of pulling out the trusty Swiss Knife on the way out the door and snipping off the older of the roses - this accomplishes two things first off it helps prune the bushes for new budding flowers and second it eliminates having to cut and throw away, and if you peel off the outer layer of the blossom it looks like a fresh healthy flower and your date will never know the difference. Besides it is the thought that counts.
Now on with the date. I pick up my friend she mushes over the flowers - whew thank goodnes. Next I tell her we will be going to a new restaurant I just read about - actually I read about it in my recent BLUE envelope of Value Coupons. Armed with my buy one get one free coupon I take her to this new Fast Food restaurant. To maintain the excitement I brag aboout others have given excellent accolades to this eatery and the food. They have sepcial sandwiches and fries you can't buy anywhere else. Sometimes you can tell from this first experience how the rest of the evening will go. Next I take my friend to a concert, this evening we will be listening to Irish and Celtic music something I know she enjoys and of course the ambience is wonderful. It is one of the weekly FREE concerts on the Boardwalk where we can grab a table and enjoy our dinner while we listen.
Afterwards I had promised her a movie in a romantic setting. In our downtown we have an old empty Penney's building and during the summer you can climb the stairs to the roof and watch a movie in the open. We had the best seats in the house, I brought camping chairs, if she wanted treats they had a snack bar set up where she could buy some popcorn and soda, I wasn't hungry, and a beer garden if she wanted to celebrate the evening. The best part is the movie AND the parking is free.
When the evening was over I took my date home she got out of the car and as a gentleman I walked her to the door. Waiting for a kiss I let her know what a wonderful time I had and would like to see her again - she something not quite descernible like call me. Hmm, problem she didn't give me her new phone number nor did she remember to kiss me goodnight.
BUT the best part of the evening, with dinner and a bottle water, I walked away slightly over five dollars $5.21 and had money left over for a beer before I went home to bed alone.

SHOPPING WITH WOMEN

Many articles have been written about this phenomenon, and I will probably be touching on past cliches and comments so in order to avoid plagiarism and/or any copywrite infringements, let me state here and now I acknowledge that I may have borrowed every word and thought inherent to someone else.
This past weekend I went shopping with my niece Hailey. We had to stop for gas, go shopping at Costco, flush the water tank in my travel trailer, take a shower and go to the RV Store for parts and stop at Ross's to buy hand towels, dish towels and wash cloths and dish rags, total time invested 4-1/2 hours.
Later Hailey and I enjoyed a wonderful late lunch at Olive Garden with Tiffany, Maxine and Tayla. We had decided afterwards we would go the mall to look for a Blue Tooth for Maxine. It was then I experienced the shopping patterns of the homo sapien, females. Now it has been a habit of mine to find the nearest store that interests me or a cozy bench for people watching. Today was an exception, while Maxine and Tiffany contiued the purchase at Radio Shack I volunteered to take Hailey and Tayla to the Children's area. Believe me this was not a burden I love spending time with my Great nieces and nephews and I loved watching them enjoy the toys and other children so this was a pleasant experience.
What I observed was the shopping patterns of Tiffany and Maxine, now bear in mind what I mentioned Hailey and I accomplished in 4-1/2 hours. Tiffany was looking for a pair of pants well maybe two pairs, gawd I don't know because after touching and going through the entire pants section including the various Clearance Racks, finding a couple of pairs that might fit but not quite the colors wanted, they still headed for that dreaded "Fitting Room" that takes forever to exit. I know because I called Tiffany while she was in the Fitting Room earlier in the day and it was almost an hour later before she got back to me.
The horror of shopping for a pair of pants is that they never quite fit the butt right or the waist right or the legs aren't just so, but more so is the fact that now we need to touch every dagnabbit belt on the Clearance rack to fit the pants we are thinking of buying. So not finding the belt that looks right we "sack" the pants and have to start over, BUT wait start over we DO NOT. The women have now discovered.... "Oh that would look so cute on Tayla or Hailey would really love this!" So we are off on another tangent and we watch them go through the children's clearance racks and wonder over to the name brands rack and finally decide to go back and purchase the first item they thought was so cute. The pants Tiffany was looking for oh yeah they now remembered they still hadn't found any pants so maybe one last trip through the Ladies Section oh wait, "Doesn't that pair of earrings look adorable? Those would look good on you." So another hurdle we go through before we get back to the pants.
Now the little ones have all but believed they have been abandoned, after all Mom and Grandma have been gone since Saturday and it is now early Sunday morning. Fortunately Mall security found us blankets and pillows so the little ones were comfortable. Realizing my little Princesses were getting restless and truly needed soemthing to eat we made our way to Baskin Robbins and put out an APB for two women lost in Kohl's in Women's wear.
FINALLY, we were all reunited Tayla had tears of happiness when she saw Mom and Hailey had to be re-introduced because it had been so long but everything worked out in the end and we lived happily ever after. Oh the pants - nope just wasn't what Tiffany was looking for but Tayla has a new summer, winter, fall and spring outfit plus 2 dozen birthday gifts. Hailey has a new dress, a pants suit, a new blouse, shoes and stuffed toy. Maxine has her Blue Tooth phone, Tiffany has new earrings, a bracelet, a new purse, some pefume, a scarf BUT NO PANTS.

ME AND MY DAGNABBIT CAMERA

About a year ago I decided to buy me a new camera, after losing over half my photographs from my trip through Wyoming and Mount Rushmore.
Wanting to do all sorts of things creative and experiment with printing larger clear photographs I took out a home equity loan and bought one of the higher priced models A Binford, Super 6000 with remote control for men.
This is one of those technical instruments that require a 3-day course on simple-to-understand operations. I am one of those rare men that does read the manual, unfortunately, I have a terrible memory. Unless I have a pocket guide I can take with me I am totally lost.
One of the wonderful features to this State Of The Art Camera is IT HAS AN AUTO SETTING! Yep, I can put it in this mode and it does everything for me.
What it does not have is a STUPIT button.
The past couple of weekends I went on some wonderful and memorable trips, one to Seattle with one of my wonderful nieces, and we took in some different sites I had not seen before. There were some great Photo Ops, especially on the Duck Ride - oh what a grand opportunity to use my camera that was setting home on my dining room table.
On My next opportunity I went with a good friend again to Seattle for the annual Folk Life Festival. Had some great Photo Ops to use my camera that was securely hidden away in the back of my Durango.
Ah ha, but now it gets better. I went to Portland to experience the Portland Rose Parade, everyone knows there are great Photo Ops at a parade, NOT IF YOUR BATTERY IS DEAD and your battery charger is setting home on youor dinig room table.
So for anyone that might be interested, on Craigs List you might find a BINFORD 6000 Super deluxe Camera WITH wrist strap, instruction manual and battery charger.
I have found post cards are 4 for a $1.00 in most gift shops.

ARE YOU PATRIOTIC

I am not trying to put anyone on the spot here it is more a rhetorical question, but it occurred to me last Friday prior to the Memorial Day Weekend. I am sure this weekend means different things to different people.
As with any military installation, colors are played each morning at 8:00 AM during flag raising and if there are ships in port as is always the case, each vessel has it's own color guard raising the respective flags. On base this means everyone comes to a stop whether walking or driving and faces the shipyard flag pole. Some place their hands over their hearts, some salute (military), some respectfully stand. And then there are others that as soon as they hear the "call to colors" a bugle playing five minutes before colors, hurriedly head for their destination or find a building to scamper into so they don't get caught having to show respect to the flag.
Yep, that is me. And as I heard the call to colors last Friday I remembered times past I did my share of scampering. Along with that came the thought this is the beginning of Memorial Day weekend and how far we seem to have come from when, I remember standing next to Mom at six years old watching the color guard pass in review during a parade, and seeing her crying. The sight of the flag or hearing the Star Spangled Banner always had my Mother tearing up with emotional patriotism.
As children my mother tried to instill the same patriotism in us. In those days it was easy people were more inclined to be proud of the USA and the Flag and the National Anthem. We seldom questioned our national leaders and our role in the world stage. Today it is different, not wrong as some would suggest, but different. We have learned to question our national feader's values and learned to question our role in the world. People have faced disillusion, some even heartbreak after not questioning for so many years, and we found ourselves torn by our own values and the desire to still believe in and be proud of the United States of America.
Will I ever have that six year old feeling again, probably not, am I a patriotic, yes, in a different way I no longer believe we are infallible, I no longer believe our leaders are flawless and unquestionableand I don't believe we have a right to assert our standards on the rest of the world. I may not always stand for Colors and tear up when I see the flag pass in review but you know something, the other day I was looking up at the flag and I felt this something stick in my throat.

I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES

Like Lawyers, Insurance companies are a sometimes evil neccessity, and I hate them just the same. A little over a year and a half ago I signed up for the Federal Gov't supplemental Dental coverage through GEHA believing they would cover at least a part of my upcoming high dental bills, over $5000.
Well after 18 months and $5000 plus more to come I received this business like rejection notice. I don't take rejection well, particularly when it comes to corporate America. "Your Implants and related dental work is not covered!" Wait a dang minute, when I signed up with your stupid coverage it states right on the front page covered, IMPLANTS. What part of this did I fail to understand?? (this deserved a double question mark). Oh but you further drove the knife between my ribs stating "Your Doctor is not an authorized preferred practioner". Well now let me see that brochure again where in the fine print did you bury this condition?? (another warranted double question mark)
So I did some quick math I have paid almost $800 in premiums for something I will never get to use and it makes me totally understand the health industry corporate picture, "WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY." Oh you don't have to give me a magnifying glass to read this I think it finally sunk in and you know what, I have now sent you a notice; "based on your lack of coverage and my dis-satisfaction with your company I cancel my policy effective immediately before you bleed me any more for my money". Plus it saves me from buying a more powerful magnifying glass to read your fine fine print. I figure from the money I save paying you I will pay my own bill and come out ahead.

MAN AND NATURE

There are many things that man is able to share with nature, hiking, skiing, motorcycle riding, hunting, fishing, etc. But there is only one thing that man and nature have a confortable relationship with that women do not, peeing outdoors.
Yep, man can relieve himself virtually anywhere, with some discretion advised.
The other night, after a lengthy day of fun and activities in Seattle I came home to the solitude of the trees, the out buildings, and bushes and few neighbors nearby. Well okay it wasn't my home and there was an unoccupied bathroom no more than 50 feet away.
It was the waning hours of dusk and stars were beginning to peek through the changing dark sky. An isolated backyard and visual blocking storage shed in the sweetness of the surrounding trees beckoned to me.
It was there in my seclusion and to the chagrin of my companions I bonded with nature. It was refreshing and relaxing. This moment with nature re-invigorates the male senses re-establishes our man-hood and re-affirms our dominence in a female world that there are still some things that belong to man alone.

HAVEN'T SEEN EVERYTHING YET

I know at my young age I have not seen everyting yet but I am constantly amazed by the new things I encounter.
Now each of us that drive or ride in a vehicle at one time or the other have experienced the horrifying site of Bambi or Rocky The Squirrel splattered against the pavement on some rural or interstate highway.
Traumatic as that in itself is now we have a gentleman from Prescott, Wis that whishes to assault our senses with a web site devoted to "RoadKill".
The last thing I want is a graphic picture and a daily reminder of Bambi, Thumper, or Rocky pressed together with Michelin 7.85 x 15 tire tread design.